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CLASSIC MEMENTO'Sa 

IWy ir.eir.oiy recfllls the. day wl»«» 
I first enlered Isew Haven, 
Academician from Andover, 
Te make Yale ray Alma mater— 
Amiable was President Day, 
His laiml's robe graceful any ^ay, 
Olmsted, Kinssiy and Silhman, 
With Goodrich and miud-v«er3 to J 
Ending their ovdeal-pars-.ng 
I gained the sought foi good blepssing— 
And found ready friend in CrosweU, 
In Trinity Church gospel-welh 
Tkpse years had their happy fricn<Srt»p«, 
Flowers that no time's frost yet aipi, . 
As by Divine disponsatioa 
1 had there my graduntion, 
Also in *Trinit.> College , , ._ 

Faculty and Fellows hare love • tilcdge. 
Upon the banks of the Avon 
1 had a prosperous bygone. 
]t is ennobling theme to teU 
Qf those useful Prelates* Brownell 
And Griswold, who not of the Mathtri 
"Were ae good more soqaeat « mM"^"* 
•Hwtford. 



■^-2. \ Oli^ 



COLLF.GE, 
FOURTH PAKT OF 
THE >!l FELIX,- TEN PAKTS, 
BY KEV. \V11>L1AM COOK, A. B. 
AUTIIOU OF 
THE EJCLEI V-TEN PAUTS, 
TH E N ERI A— F OUR PARTS, 
THE GUIDES-TEN IViRCS. 
SALEM AUGUST 1S71 



\ 



FORETHOUGHTS. 84 






lO 7 w feji 

^ 7/ 



Footsteps of my classic Ilfe-c0W8t} 

In manner well taken lor verse, 

Haloea of earth and lieaven bright arounc' 

Still beautiful for thee abounU. 

Home and its pleasures left to tread thee, 

1 resolved a scholar to be — 

Tim« destroys not intellect's joy, 

Purest ttlieu in Gospel-employ. 

Surely Jesus has on my course 

In my heart had good discourse, 

O'er dark, clouds laitU's lij>ht and music 

Came when e'er 1 was sad or weak. 

Thanks be to God that I have lived 

To see his works, his word believed-— 

Ho man can le«ra infinity. 

Yet in it issecuiity. 

Then Reader, would you be a Echoltr? 

Gain,.right ideas with good ardor. 

What you now imperfectly know 
God harmoniously will show. 
The christian scholar onward going, 
His or her mission well knowing, 

Gains prayer, strength and true friendf 

"While to goodly themes the heart attendt, 

Vo lazy or prayerless student, 

But those moat ardently intent 

Can gain glowing elloquence, 

That Gospel-suasiva influence. 

I thank all who pray God for ma, 

Jtich blessings be theira eternally. 

WILLIAM COOK. Augvut, 1171 



THE INDUCTIVE THEORY. 85 

Revelation and induction are two of 
the principal sources from which all knowl- 
edge li derived. 

While we admit the superiority of rev- 
elation, in regard to the docrines made 
known — it will not bu unint'Testing to 
learn the professea an(] principles which 
must be ob^erved befo:e indutMion can re- 
Bult in the discovery eftiutli, the character- 
istic of all pure knowledge. 

As a neoessr<ry priiliniln.iny to the pro- 
ress itself, it it. requi^it tl;at we Iiave sucit 
confidence in the uvideru; of our senses, as 
Tvill afford full conviction of the existence 
pf mind and matter. Their re.ilify being 
assnncd th^ numcrois facts which they 
afford enable us to proceed in the protjresa 
of discovoy beyond any fissinablo limits. 

Instead of this child-like dipposition 
to learn first principles, we find the «b- 
cient nhilojophers laboring to acquire 
knowledge which lies far beyond the 
sphere of human observatioo. 



S6 THE INDUCTIVE THEORY. 



They studied to find out first cauaei, ani 

as they could not advance beyond mere hy- 
pothesis, tbey distorted every thing ''into att 
absurd connexion with their hypothetical 
systems. 

Three events occured io expose their foll/i 
and give an impulse to discovery. 

Cfaristianily firft softened the hearts, aacl 
humbled the pride cf ihcac, who had been thus 
■wise in their conceits— when that had be- 
conoe mingled with superetition and the 
Grecian philosophy, tfie lU'formation r«- 
Bioved these encumbrances— and then came 
forth The Iniluttive TLeory of Bacon, wbicfa' 
bas proved one of the greatest aids to the 
study of nature. 

It taught (he student to collect fscts from 
every source, to classify them according to 
their relations and propertie?, end thus to 
l»ake tb-e c^iOfct valuable discoveries. 

Air, earth and its inhabitance and produc- 
tions, water and its ftmiilies were no longer 
considered as objects^ incapable of yieWiiig 
any new trophies to science. 



COMMENCEMENT-THEME. 87 

But reason called into more frequent and 
proper exerciic, su'igestcii the concluaion tkat 
if combinations of matter, or associations of 
thought liail, in nnv one inrfante, piod'Jced 
or opened the way to new discoverits, others 
and those more fxicngive might be made to 
subserve the same juiriosc. 

Thus did nu'iiiM-ho loved thtir God and 
bellow crt'ututes, prattico, iir.d improve the In. 
ductive philosofdiy. Tli.'y fk'jcoted no forrect 
knowledj;e; lut united old ;u>d v:e\\ fstablished 
principli'S with those more iccenfly discover- 
ed, and th\is made thciii uli ?o I'lanj linkf 
in the preat chain of scieiilitic investiptions. 
So^roat -wiis the pr"r;r.'ii:< of discovery that 
maiiy still retaiiurg thoir v'd superstition* 
bacimie alarmed, and di'nour.rcd nil rxpcr- 
itnentali^ts as the f nl ^ oi ters of fo\ ( n menta 
and rcli'^ion. But this violent opposition eooa 
ceased ° 'The valuable, truths hrought to light 
proved th^U the philosopliers of the New 
School were no enthuioast— hut men who 
labored to improve to the highest degree 
the physical, (he inteliectunl and moral pow- 
ers of our nature- 



88 THE INDUCTIVE-THEORY. 



To effect this noble purpose they beoam« 
pupils in the Bchool of nature, and 8tudio<I 

her jbt-notnina with atlention. 

It was by thus expmenirg the order and 
relations of thirifrs, that Newton was enabled 
io ascend, by reiiiilar induction, from observ- 
ing (he fall o( an apple to tiie discovery of tha 
earth's attraction. FoUowiuor up thia idea, hs 
unfolded ihe principle of universal gravita- 
tion; dashed in piecos the visionary theories 
of ancient astronomers, and placed on a surd 
"basis the doctrine of Copfirnicus. 

A spirit of inquiery tben awoke, jrafhering 
strength in its progress, spread throughout all 
Europe —Nor wns it confined to the shores 
of the old world, but Franklin and Fultoi* 
lijj'ited the. lamp ofscicnca on this ■westera 
hemisphere, where but a century before thd 
Indian had roamad in all the darkness of pa- 
ganism. 

^ It 13 encora^ing to think tint the nation, 
T»hich pi'olucad those great men. can fully 
appreoii^e their leirnin^; — and that, though 
by mere by-GTonescrol', education may not 
here be carried to the extent to which it i» 
urged ia the universities of Europe^the 



COMMENCEMENT-THEME. 8> 

principles ot elementary knowledge and 
of inductive science -i^e generally known. 

Althougli the field over wlimh learning 
has ah'eady been diiused is wide, its borders 
emulousiy itierciisinj:, then 1S34 — 1 siiowed, 
:n imaj:iiiHtion-j)ioU(res— now, IfciTl The 
Frtcil'ic I.oiouiotive chirioDates to us the 
pbilosophi r Hud the niissionary extending 
those borders bt-yond the ^reat A'\ estern 
Valley, and canying ingtruclion to those, 
who, as ti»ey advauce in ivcaltli, knowledge 
And fv^iigion v.iii rise nv, bltsftd lo bless. 

Already have the loijiidatioiis bf en laid 
of those halls oneari.ing, \vhiili viil leieaf- 
ter afford to the biudetit a elai^fcii; retreat, 
whero he ni.iy learn the iTinclpJes of t'ue 
philosophy, and j)articipaty in th« pleasures 
ot intellectual cultivalion, TIm' tui.h will be 
a result o! well directed effort to eecure to 
'iUii Western Slates the benefits of relijjion 
and pure scieneo, is not only j robable, bat 
laith waves the tide of benevolence, which 
h flowiiig thitht-r to effect this noble purpose. 

But the contemplation of this event so 
agreeable to reli<»ion and patriotism lias led 
us from our subject 

Though the most splendid results of The 
Indnctive Theory have been exhibited in 
its application to physical science, others 
equally beneficial? though less imposing, 



n THg INDUCTIVE THEORY, 

might bo produced, by appljing its pnnci- 
jiles to the discovery of moral truths. Not 
that we can derive from it the power of illus- 
trating mysteries known only to The Om- 
niscient, or teach more of our nature and 
destiny than may be learned from llevela- 
tion and experience. But bounded as is 

moral scieiice, il i* abundant for all practical 
purposes —it presents facts for the most ex- 
tensive inductions, inluctions capable of 
affecting the debates of senators and tbg 
counsels of kini^s. 

It is this eztcnsivc application, which 
imparts to the inducti\e pi iloscphy its 
greatest value. Nee iing no ensiijiiia-forca 
to ;,'ive it celel'iily, it reiommt-nds itself to 
the good svnLiC and judgment of the world. 
By the study of fact?, and by observing 
the relation and properties ol things every 
man may become to some decree a philos- 
opher, and ascend from simplest to most 
sublime truths. Thus Butler pursued his 
intellectual course, iill he acquired that 
power of correct moral reasoning, which 
gave an irresistable force to his arguments. 
la this manner may all the lovers of truth 



COMMENCEMENT-THEME. 91 

conduct their inqurics till there remain no 
particles of matter and no or but lew difE- 
culries ja ethics lo which 'Ihe Inductive 
Theory h;is r;0'. been succeKsCuily «pplied- 

Unt shouKl ;uiy sii[ij)Osc that, because the 
inductive j)lulosO|ihy is gt'ncrally cunfined, 
in its aj)pii(Jitioii to facts, it must therefore 
prove Udlavoiirablo to the cultivation of 
poliic Lteratiirc ainl the 11110 arts — let aa 
appeal b« mivl". 10 the hi.-itory of England 
since- thodavs of New ion, nnd it will be 
seen th it tlie fr;i 0/ licr hi<:hest refinement 
in orator)' and elejzant writing — and of l:er 
life-useful .advancement in the fine arts 
couimenced soon adcr /lie discoveries made 
by Ihkit {;rciit philosopher. 

But though iiistory sp'caks thus favorably, 
we would not maintain that The Inductive 
Theory directly imparts or improves a ge- 
nius for poetry, sculptuie or painting — 
yet since it teaciies all to iinitale the artist 
in his observation of natuic, it must also in 
connexion with a claesical education, im- 
part to society facts for as fine specimens 
of painting or st-ituary as ever adorned 
the Iloiuan Vatican. 



92 COMMENCEMENT-THEME.. 

If founded in nature and the principled 
of revelation it may also aid the poet in the 
life-lirea of truth, and give immortality 
to his works. The muse is called forth froai 
the cavt'S o! banditii and tiora the battle- 
field to scenes more worthy of immortal 
song. I'll J poetic lament ot Heber over 
the blind aess ot the heathen bowing down 
to woo i Hn 1 stoie, an I appealing to souls 
lighted with heawtnly wisdom — that Zion'a 
lamp oflite should not be denied to them — ia 
liow many ardent licarts has it kindled a 
desire to plant Tlie Cro^s in pajjan lands? ! 
Such is the inductive lite-field of poetry, 
and it is only wh mi employed on kindreii 
themes, that it is midi to subserve the high- 
er purposes of our na'ure. 

TliiJ principles of induitida th'irefore, 
as they are applicable to the discovery of 
^j.Q'h_30 are they favorable to the highest 
inte Ijctual and moral refinement and zeal. 




;<4frf!3»^v».'««**,^ 



A TACATION-RETURN. 

Vacation, near Saturday-night, 
Three Cla?siuales (bought it would btl^ht 
To return to Yale by water 
As morti foe our hwalth tbereafter. 
All on b.>ard a ;^ooil sloop-p.icket, 
MooiJiif^s loosed, ajid all the sails get, 
Vfn took o'u- (Upurtuie in 5ea-3(yle 
From Boston 11*: bor by each isle— 
To ail diMi' friends we bad good-by, 
Tiidu to ir voyage v'e did apply, 
And in twiliglit seen what eyos could sac 
To our birihs for re»' retired we, 
Ipv!>kiiij| God's lovinj^ blf?sing 
Safely g'.iid'nj: ever^ thing. 
Arising ou Holy moiniog 
Wa sdw ocean-uioneters spoutin^> 
And bow iilonj every beach 
The wave washed sands glittering reaclj, 
While anon hulj Sunday-bella 
Told us whut nothing batter tells, 
A briozc wri-f awhile propitious, 
And onward most quickly wafted Ut^ 
So that at night we were able 
To Dicor oui- craft at Barnstable. 
At Hoiiaei' Hole at, Oyster Bay 
We worj becaimed on our way, 
From Saturday night to Saturday-mori 
Going unto oar pajsa^a-bourn, 
I'ishin;! and coast-way excursion, 
E'en trine babe-sight for diveraioOi 
Some times slow, awhile wind-driTeflj 
y^Q safe arrived at New Hayen> 
1V1LLIAM COOK. 



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